Homo Estonicus Not Endangered Species, Says Demographer
Estonian society should come to terms with its declining births and plan accordingly, but it need not despair, according to the director of Tallinn University's Institute for Population Studies, Luule Sakkeus.
Last year there were 12.5 percent fewer births than in 2008, ERR radio reported.
“[...] the 90s slump in births explains smaller generations today and means fewer women are entering child-bearing age right now,” said Sakkeus.
She said the problem is not that Estonia has a low birth rate, but that people are delaying having children more and more.
“This is a normal shift that in western Europe began with the generation of the 1970s. In Estonia it started in the 1990s and in realty we have not have delayed births by much yet, so in that sense, we still have a ways to go,” Sakkeus said.
As the population ages and the child-bearing age increases, it is inevitable that there are more deaths than births, she said.
The dwindling population is often cited as a problem in Estonia. But although she said the decline is inevitable, asked what measures should be taken, Sakkeus said "nothing." Estonians won't become extinct; they just need to adjust, she said.
“The continuity of the population has been secured and we have little reason to believe it won't be the same case for future generations,” Sakkeus said.